| 摘要 |
An alignment sleeve for precisely aligning a pair of ferrules, such as a pair of multifiber ferrules, is provided along with an associated assembly method. The alignment sleeve includes a sleeve member defining a lengthwise extending cavity opening through opposed ends thereof. The sleeve member can also define at least one window and, more commonly, a plurality of windows opening into the cavity. The alignment sleeve also includes a guide pin extending lengthwise through the cavity and a guide pin engagement member extending at least partially into the window defined by the sleeve member. The guide pin engagement member is bonded, such as by welding, to the guide pin such that the guide pin is retained in a floating relationship within the sleeve member. The sleeve member can also define an expansion window to accommodate expansion of the guide pin that is creating during welding of the guide pin. By retaining the guide pins in a floating relationship within the sleeve member, the alignment sleeve aligns the ferrules with increased precision since the precision of the alignment is dictated, not by the precision with which the alignment sleeve is fabricated, but by the precision with which the closely toleranced ferrules are formed.
|
